Okay, so after reading some other F/S N and Naruto crossovers, I decided to write my own. I know a fairly good amount about the Nasu-verse, but I'll admit my knowledge of the Naruto world is lacking, as such, please try not to be surprised when I make a mistake. If you have corrections, please make them, and if anyone would like to help come up with plot bunnies beyond the standard canon, I would be eternally grateful.

Now here we go.

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Emotions. Memories. Personalities.

Hopes. Dreams. Ideals.

All of them swirled within the existence that had been known as Archer. Visions of roads not taken passed Archer by, the knowledge contained within them grouping together to form the core of the spirit that was the Counter-Guardian. They correlated, aligned and then solidified, becoming a singular being with innumerable lives.

"You're finally awake."

Instantly the eyes of the being that was Archer snapped open, transforming the view from the fathomless black beneath eyelids to an endless plain of white with a matching sky above. Archer turned to look upon the one who had spoken, spotting the elderly man that was instantly recognized.

"Zelretch."

The single word was loaded with distrust as Archer's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Beyond the emotion in the voice there was a curious resonate quality to it, as if several people were speaking at once. Some of the tones were deeper and rougher than normal, others were higher and softer that usual. All the tones overlapping were similar enough to Archer's usual voice that one could recognize the spirit.

"Easy, Archer," Zelretch responded with a sly grin, "Stir yourself up to much and you might fall apart completely on me, it's hard enough holding you together as is."

"What do you mean?" Archer replied instantly, the distrust in the spirit's voice giving way to caution. If the Wizard Marshal was the one supporting it's form than disrupting him was the last thing to do at the moment.

"Take a look at yourself, having all of your personalities and lives merged together was finally too much for your soul and now you're coming apart at the seams."

There was hesitation in Archer's movements, but eventually the Counter-Guardian turned its gaze upon itself, letting out a sharp intake of breath at what it saw.

Gone was the tall, muscular body it had had in the Fifth Holy Grail war, or maybe it wasn't. The surprise was fading to be replaced by curiosity as Archer raised a hand to look at its form. The heavy red waist coat and jacket and the black chest plate were still there, at least in shape and color, but that was it for anything distinctive.

All of Archer's body was hazy and indistinct, constantly wavering and shifting as if it were being looked at through heavy fog and a running stream. Its skin shifted in color before their eyes, drifting from the heavy tan of the Fifth War to the a pale, milky white that conjured images of Ilya to Archer's mind. The hair was still white, but the length kept charging, going from short, rough, and spiky to long, straight, and silky. More changes were visible to Zelretch's eyes, shifts in facial structure, changes in clothing, and even a wavering height, though he said nothing of this to Archer.

Finally Archer gave up on looking over itself to stare back at the Old Man of the Jewels in silence before asking, "And why do you care if I'm coming apart?"

Zelretch gave an amused chuckle before he responded, his voice light as he said, "Because you're the best entertainment I've seen in decades Archer, and I'd rather not lose someone as fun as you are."

That seemed to do little for Archer's mood, but Zelretch quickly made a placating gesture before continuing, "Your good fun Archer, and you've served Alaya well. So the fact that someone who has worked for the world so hard is about to break apart because of how you function is disappointing."

"Care to explain what you mean there?" Archer growled.

"With any other Heroic Spirit, the information gained in the Holy Grail War would be lost at the end, but because of your status as a Guardian, all of the paths that you've taken across a nigh infinite number of Wars have been forced into a single being, and frankly there's only so much one soul can and should bear. In your case, all of those existences are causing your soul to splinter since you have no vessel to contain you, if nothing is done, you will disappear completely from existence."

A grimace formed across Archer's lips before it responded. "And what are you going to do about that Old Man?"

"Tell me Archer, what is a hero?"

Skepticism was clear in its reply, but the spirit answered anyways saying, "A hero is a person who has accomplished deeds so amazing, so impossible, and so astounding that they have become immortalized in legend, separated from the world in death and recorded in the Throne of Heroes."

"Good, now, do those spirits change?"

"No..."

The Wizard Mashal smiled as his intention became clear to the spirit.

"You intend to make me into a proper Heroic Spirit...but how..." Archer muttered in thought.

"Why by giving you another shot at life, how else?"

Archer's eyes, barely distinguishable as they were, went wide. "And how do you intend to do that?" It asked, the suspicion thick in its voice.

"Well Alaya would most likely get in the way of this and stop it if she could, but I think I've found away around that issue."

"I'm listening."

"Well since Alaya is one of the consciousnesses of the Earth, and protects said world, why not go to another world?"

Suddenly pieces began to fit together in Archer's mind as the entirety of the plan came together. "So you're going to put me in a vessel and let me become a proper Hero, from which I can ascend to the a Throne when I die, thus escaping my fate and surviving...but what's the catch, Zelretch, what do you get out of this whole thing?"

"Why I get to watch you become a hero of course. You may not know it, but watching heroes live is possibly one of the most amazing things imaginable."

Archer went silent for several moments, dragging out the wait as the Guardian ran through possible traps in its mind. Eventually though, "Fine, I accept your offer. You have a vessel waiting for me?"

"Of course I do," Zelretch replied, a touch of mischievousness in both his eyes and voice before they disappeared and his expression became unusually serious.

"I'll warn you now though Archer, it will be a hard and dangerous life that I'm giving you, so be careful, and don't underestimate your foes. You'll have your memories and skills, but I'm afraid I can't manage to keep all of your power."

He locked eyes with Archer for a moment to make sure the message got through before amusement came to the forefront again.

"Now off with you Archer!" He said, and with a sensation like falling in ice water, darkness overtook the Counter Guardian.

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(Archer's POV)

I had never fallen from space before, if I had though, I suspected it would be a bit like my current situation, only slower. My view was of a series of continents and island chains, bathed in the darkness of the night as scattered clouds passed between myself and the surface, though I was quick to note that the clouds and the surface were drawing closer far faster than I would have liked. Within only a few seconds of falling, I had passed through the clouds, drawing towards a massive, densely forested area, the lights of civilization below drawing closer and closer.

A few seconds more and I could make out what appeared to be my destination, a section of the forest scorched and burning, with wide swaths of destruction cut through it. When I neared the surface, to within a few thousand feet I guessed, my velocity dropped till I was falling like a feather, the ravaged lands below becoming more distinct as I approached.

As I finally made out my destination, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as I made out the source of the devastation. A nine-tailed fox its fur seemingly alight with fire thrashed below me, approaching a location filled with people that were fighting back against the beast. The sight brought back memories of the fight to contain Gaia's beast, only even more futile as I saw what was my true destination, an altar, ringed by candles, upon which rested the small form of a baby, crying out as a woman with red hair finished a design upon its belly.

And then she was dead.

I only just caught a glimpse of what had happened as I was pulled down into the child's form, but I was able to see the woman and a blonde man behind her struggling to stop a massive claw that had been driven through their backs. In flash of understanding I mentally sighed as I thought to myself.

"So I'm an orphan again...You weren't kidding, were you Zelretch?"

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And there's the first chapter. This story will be primarily from Archer's first person point of view, but shifts will occur on occasion. Expect our hero to be jaded, cynical, (perhaps) wise, and very powerful.